Man charged with murder after teen killed in Frederiksted shooting

Carrim E.J. Fingal, 21, faces first-degree murder and multiple weapons charges after a shooting at the Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion housing complex in Frederiksted left a teenager dead and another person injured on Thursday night.

Fingal, known as "Barim," appeared in Superior Court on Monday for an Advice of Rights hearing before Magistrate Judge Christopher M. Timmons. He was held on $1 million bail and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

The attack happened around 9:06 p.m. on October 22 near Building 10 in the complex after the 911 Emergency Call Center received ShotSpotter alerts. Police found two gunshot victims: an adult male and Ky'Janny Niles, a minor who had been struck in the chest. Niles died from his injuries shortly after arriving at the scene.

According to court documents, the surviving victim told investigators he and Niles had been sitting on an outdoor bench when two armed figures in black clothing and ski masks approached them. One gunman, described as slim-built and brown-complexioned, carried an assault rifle and demanded something in local dialect. When Niles said he did not have what was being sought, the second attacker fired, hitting the teenager in the chest. The same gunman then shot the adult victim in the hand before both fled.

Despite the masks, the wounded man identified Fingal as the handgun-wielding shooter, saying they had known each other for more than a decade. Police records confirmed Fingal holds no firearms license or ammunition purchase permit in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

On Friday afternoon, October 23, detectives brought Fingal to the Wilbur H. Francis Command police station in Mars Hill for questioning. After receiving Miranda warnings, he confessed to driving to Hodge Pavilion in a blue four-door Suzuki SX4, carrying a black Glock handgun, firing during the incident, and fleeing on foot. Court records show he had no prior criminal history.

Fingal was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility in Golden Grove after failing to post bail. His formal arraignment is set for Thursday, November 12, at 8:00 a.m. in Courtroom CR-216. The second gunman, who carried the assault rifle, remains under investigation by the Major Crimes Unit.